Check-writer



W. UHL.

' CHECK WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1919.

1,379,425, Patented May 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

IIIIIIIIIIIIII NVEIVTOH WML/AM /HL UNITED srArss IPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM UI-IL, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASS'JGNR TO TODD PROTECTOGRAFH COMPANY, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONQF NEW YORK.

CHECK-WRITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24., 1921.

Applctaon'led September 2'2, 1919. Serial No. 325,503.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM Urin, a citi'- zenV of Germany, residing at Rochester', in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Writers, of which ply and uniformly j apply to the printing type the right amount of ink for them to print satisfactorily.

Another object is to provide an4 inking mechanism of the kind indicated which is so constructed that a liberal supply of inkVv of' different colors can be carried in the machine with a mechanism for drawing ink from said supply and applying, it to nthe type, the mechanism being so constructed that there isno danger of more ink leaving the source of supply than is required for the amount of work actuallyy done. y

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists in thenovel features of construction and combinations of parts, the* essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form vof embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification. i A

Of said drawings: v

Figure l is4 atop view of the improved machine.

Fig.` 2 is a right side view of the machine with the cover for the inking mechanism on that side removed and part of the casing broken away to expose more of the inking mechanism to view. In this figure others of the parts are shown in outline. ,y Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, `looking in the direction of the arrow.

I Fig. l is the same as Fig. 3 except that it shows the relative positions of the parts after. an; operation to print is commenced.

l Fig. 5 is a detail of some ofthe improved mking mechanism.

Fig. 5A is an enlarged view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a sectionvon the line 6 6, Fig. 2, looking in the directionof the arrow.

F ig. 7 is the same as Fig. 6 except that it shows the positions of the parts after the mechanism is started to make an impres- SlOIl;

Fig. 8 illustrates the construction of one of the ink reservoirs and some of the devices associated therewith for stirring and feeding the ink.

Fig. 9`is a detail of one of theink applying rollers and the parts immediately associated therewith.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated in the form it would take if applied to a machine of the kind fullyV illustrated and described in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,138,830 issuedMay d, 1915 to L. M. Todd and C. Cr. Tiefel. Those parts of thepatented machine `havingdirectly to do with the present improvement are shown and described herein and reference should be made to the patent if information as to the construction and operation of the rest of the Amechanism 1s desired.y

to guide 4 the operator in positioning the type carrier.

" In order'to makeV it difficult to alter words or characters so printed, the type and platen have their coperating faces constructed to disrupt the fibers of the paper printed upon. This, in connection with a pressure applied to the paper by thetype and platen, incorporates the ink with the fiber of the paper,

A relative movement of with reference to an index suitably marked thereby making erasure difficult. In vaddition to this, certain of the words or characters are printed in different colors to make it additionally diiicult to` effect alterations,

particularly if `an alteration involvesv the A printing of a new amount over the old one. The improved machine has a reservoir for each kind of ink and associated with each Y reservoir is`what may properly be termed a force pump which is'preferably operated once during a number of printing operations to draw a supply of ink from the reservoir and force it to the devices for applying it to the faces of theJ type.V ControllingY mechanism is provided which prevents actuation of a pump when the printing employs ink of a different color. l

Describing the machine in detail and with reference to the drawings, part of the mechanism is inclosed in a base 11 and the rest in atop 12 hinged at 13 to the base. L atches (not shown) coperate with the hinges when the top is closed to prevent movement of the top relative to the base during printing operations. TheV top of the base 11 is suitablyconstructed to serve as a printingbed Aor table foi` the work and the hinged top is cut away as shown at 14, Fig. 2, to provide av slot through which the work can pass on its way through the machine.- The hinged top is provided 'with a shield 15 (Fig. 4) inclosing the mechanism contained in the top, this shield being providedrwith an opening through which'type described in detail later on can coperate with a platen V16. The platen 16 is carried in a swinging frame or bracket 17 which is moved to carry the platen 16 toward and from the type carrier as described in the Todd and Tiefel patent. The type 18,7Figs. 2, 3 and 4, are arranged `in circumferential rows onthe periphery of a plate 19 attached to the face of an element comprising portions 2O loose on a shaft 21 and connected together byra portion 22 which has its outer face concen' .tric to theV shaft. f

The portion 22 is provided with a rib 23 engaging a longitudinal groove in the shaft 21 thereby permitting the shifting of the type carrier along the shaft to different positions while rotation of the shaft relative to the carrier isy prevented. Y

Loose on the shaft 21 andadjacent to the ends of the type carrier are the arms of a yoke 24 provided with a handle 25 whereby the yoke andthe type carrier may be shifted to dierent positions along the shaft 21.` This shifting movement is to bring any' type line 18 opposite the platen 16, a

pointer 26 (Fig. 1) andV scale 27 .being provided to guide the operator. After the desired line of type is positioned oppositev the` platen the s'haftv21 is given a complete rotation, thereby carrying'the selected line of type over the vplaten to print the matter represented by the type. l

The lconnections for rotating the shaft 21 include a short shaft 28 journaled inja boss 29 onrthe top 12 of the easing. lAttached to the inner end of the shaft 28 is Ya small ferent positions with reference to the scale l 27 and at` each position the operating handle 30 is turned, thereby causing the lshaft 21 and carrier to turn'and coperate with the platen 16 to print the desired word. This is vrepeated until the words and characters necessary to complete the inscription have been printed. The type selecting` movement of the handle 25 not only determines the words to be printed, but it also determines thecolor of the printing and vcontrols the- Yinking mechanismV previously referred to` and hereinaftery described in detail.

The inking mechanism comprises two rolls '.33 and 34, Figs. 3 and 4. VIn machines of. this kind the two colors preferred are 'red and black and in the present instance the roll 33 is for the black ink and the other for the red. The ink rolls are rotatable on p studs35 (see also Fig. 9) yon arms 36 and 37' attached respectively t0 shafts38 and 39;. These shafts are journaled at their for-- ward ends in brackets 40 on the inside of thetop and at their rear ends are journaled ,in and extend beyond the casing.

Pivoted to the .sides of the arms. 36 and 37 vare small arms 41 with laterally formed portions 42. holding small brushes 43 for distributing the ink onl the surfaces ofthe ink rolls 33 and 34. Torsion springs44 hold the arms 41 in proper relation to the v supporting .arms 36 and 37. `It will benoted that there 1s somel difference in the shapes Y and relative positions of thearms 41 and the arms 36 and 37 but these differences are,

'for the 'present purpose, immaterial,v the main reason for them being to permit the vroll 33 to contact the type as early in the respectively with portions 51 andr52 (Fig. 1

1) of a controlling plate 56 (see also Figs. 2, 3 and 4) attached to the underside of the longitudinal bar of the yoke 24. This controlling plate cooperates with therollers 47 and 48 to determine whether the in'king roll p 33 or 34 is to be swung to inking position.

Fastened respectively to the shafts 38 and 39 at the rear end of the machine are levers 53 and 5,4 (Figs. 6 and 7) connected by a lspring 55 tending at `all times to drawthe lower ends of the levers toward the shaft 21 and thereby rock the shafts v38 and 39 to swing the-ink roll arms 36 and 37 into the path of the type. As shown inV Fig. 6,

. will be explained later.

this movement of the levers is normally prevented by engagement of rollers on the levers with cams 56 and 57 rigid with the shaft 21. rIphese cams are so formed that at their home or normal positions they hold the levers 53 and 54 apart a sufficient dis tance to hold the rollers 47 and 48 out of contact with the coperating portions of the plate 56 so that there will not be even a slight interference with the movement of the yoke 24 to different positions in selecting the type to be printed.

When the shaft21 begins to turn to effect engagement of the type and platen to print the cams 56 and 57 are,` as shown in Fig. 7, carried out of the paths of the rollers on the levers 53 and 54. This renders the spring 55 effective to swing one of the levers and rock the associated inlring arm 36 or 37 to position its ink applying roller in the path of the type. Movement of the other lever will 4always be instantly arrested by engage ment of the correspondingfroller 47 or 48 with the coperating portion 51 or 52 of the controlling plate 56 and thevarrested ink-` ingarm will be held in a position where its roller cannot contact the type. It is apparent that the movementv of the controlling plate 56 as an incident to selecting the type will control the ink applying devices so that they will apply ink only to the proper sections of the type plate, thereby preventing any confusion of colors through accidental application of ink of different colors to the same line of type.

The ink is supplied to the rollers 33 and 34 through conduits 61 and 62 having their lower ends `positioned to deposit ink on or adjacent to the distributing brushes 48. These conduits are supported in bosses 63, (Fig. 5) integral with the casing.

suitable holes in elements 64 (see also Fig. 5A) threaded to screw into the casing of the machine, gaskets 65 surrounding the ends of the conduits and being compressed sufliciently to give an ink tight connection. In alinement with the upper ends of the conduits are small holes 66 extending into tubular openings 67 drilled or otherwise formed in the casing 12. The forward ends of the tubular openings 67 are closed by screws 68. `The portion of the tubular opening or chamber adjacent these screws contains a cushion or buffer 69, the purpose of which Mounted in the tubular openings 67 are shafts 71,V these shafts having an endwise movement.

Extending around the shaft 71 is a cir cumferential roove 72 (Fig. 5A) and drilled or otherwise ormed in the end of the shaft is a hole 73. The reduced portion of the shaft at the bottom of the circumferential groove 72 is provided with four holes 74 extending radially of the shaft and with their The upper ends of the conduits pass throughA inner ends terminating at the hole 73. The shaft 7l is `reciprocated'by mechanism described later, carrying the circumferential groove from one position to another so that it will successively pass a hole 75 extending into the interior of an ink reservoir 76 and the hole 66 in alinement with the upper end of the conduit.

The shaft 71 fits snugly in the opening 67 and if it is moved, forv example, from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 towardv the right, a partial vacuum will be created in the part of the opening 67 adjacent the left end of the shaft so that when the circumferential groove 72 comes in alinement with the opening 75, the partial vacuum will cause ink to be drawn from the reservoir 76. At the same time the partial vacuum will be destroyed. When the shaft moves in the opposite direction, that is, toward the left in Fig. 5, the circumferential groove 72 will be carried out of register with the opening 75 and carry with it the inl; just drawn from the reservoir. As the circumferential Groove passes out of register with the hole 75 the ink in. the groove, holes 74 and 73 and the chamber or opening adjacentthe left hand end (Fig. 5) of the shaft, will be gradually compressed until the groove is brought into alinement with the opening 66 and upper end of the conduit. Then the compression will be released and the ink forced down into the conduit tube.

' The cushion 65 is to relieve the mechanism from strain because of the compression becoming too great. When the amount of compression becomes great enough, v the spring behind the cushion will yield until the compression is released, whereupon the spring will return the cushion plunger to its ,original position. The space between the cushion plunger and the end of the screw 65 connects with the reservoir by means of a passage 77 so that when the cushion is moved to relieve compression, the movement will not be interfered with by any compressionbetween the cushion and the screw.

The mechanism is so constructed that a number of operations to print in one color are necessary to effect a complete reciprocation of the corresponding shaft 71. The mechanism for effecting the reciprocation comprises a rotary member 81 (Fig. 2) journaled in. an extension of the casing. The end of the member 81 is drilled to receive a reduced portion'of the shaft 71, the connection being such that the shaft 71 may move freely endwise` relative to the shaft 81.

Formed around the member 81 is a `earn groove 82 coperating with one end of the pin fastened Vin an arm 83. The other end of the pin coperates with a straight groove 84 in the underside of a boss on the casingl The arm 83 is clamped to the `shaft 71 by meansy of lock nuts 85 and the groove 84 coperates with the pinin the 'harm in such a Way as to prevent rotation. of the shaft 71. The loclr nuts may be shifted along the shaft 71 to give the arm 83 different positionson the shaft in-order to get the proper cooperation of the circumferential groove 79. (Fig. 5A) in the shaft with the passagel 75 and conduit. VThe cam groove 82 is so formed that When the member 81 makes a Complete rotation the shaft 71Will have are carried out of effective 'position the con-V sequent moveinent of the lever '53 or 54, Whichever is freed by the controlling plate 56, will swing under the influence of the spring 55 4as previously described and carry the laterally extendingV port-ion 89 ofthe corresponding pavvl idly over the teeth of its ratchet disk 90. When, during the latter part of the printing movement of the shaft 21, the associated cam 56 or 57 restores the lever to its normal position, the portion 89 of the pawl Will engage the teeth of the ratchet dislr99 and turn the dislr slightly. Retaining springs 91 cooperate with the teeth ofthe ratchet disks to prevent reverse movement. 1 n

1t is clear that after a number of operations, for example, of the navi/186 the associated member 81 will have made va complete rotation with a corresponding` complete reciprocation of the shaft 71.

rlhe ink used in machines of this type is of such a nature that it must be agitated or stirred to prevent it from settling and caking. lt is particularly important that this be done Where the inl; must flow through small passagesl The illustrative machine includes a device vvhichboth stirs the ink each reservoir and advances it toward the passage through which it leaves, although this mechanism is not a part of the present invention. rEhe .reservoirs are, as shown, rin Fi 8,tubnlar in their form and journaled in each of themis a .shaft 93. VSecured to and surrounding the shaftl 93 is a Wire helix 94 suitably formed to stir the ink and advance it toward Vand across theV end of the opening or passage 7 5. 'Fastened to the outer vend of the shaft 93 is a gear 95 meshingvvith a gear 96'integral with the ratchet dislr 90. 1t is apparent, of course, that' when the ratchet disk is operated the corresponding shaft 93 v1vvill be turned to cause the YWire helix to do itsk Work. The gears 95 and 96 are both larger than the ratchet disk 90 so that the helix 94 Will have enough movement to keep the ink Well mixed. If preferred, the shafts 93y may be driven by 'a gear connection directly with the shaft 21 arranged to give the helix a greater extent of movement at each operation than' is the case with the mechanism shown in the drawings. i

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to limit the invention tothe one form, as it is susceptible of various changes and modifications,all of which come Within the scope of the claims Which follow;V

' lhat l claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination With a Vprinting couple, of an inlr reservoir', means comprising a member having a reciprocatory` movement for drawing inlr from the reservoir and feeding it to the printing couple,.a movable element provided with a cam groove, a pinengaging said groove and rigid With the reciprocatory member, and means for actuating said movable element'by operations of the printing couple. Y

2. In a machiney 0f the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, means comprising a member having a reciprocatory movement for drawingv ink from the reservoir `and forcing it toward the printing couple, a rotatable element provided WithV a cam groove, al pin engaging said groove and rigid With the reciprocatory member, and means for effecting a rotation of said rotatable element by a plurality of operations of the printing couple.Y

3. in a machine of the cla-ss described, the combination With a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, means comprising a plunger having a rectilinear to and fro movement for drawingl inlr from the reservoir and forcing it toward the printing couple, aro-l tatable element provided With a cam groove, a connection rigid with the plunger and engaging said groove, and means requiring a plurality of operations of the printing couplev for effecting a complete rotation of the rotatable element i i i 4. 1n a machine of the class described, the combination With a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, means comprisinga plunger having a rectilinear to and fro movement for drawing ink from the reservoir and' forcing it toward the` printingcouple, Ya rotatable member provided With a cam groove, anjelement engaging the cam groove and adjcustably secured to the plunger, and

means requiring a plurality of operations of the printing couple for effecting a complete rotation of the rotatable member.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, pump mechanism for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it to the printing couple, said pump mechanism comprising a compression chamber, and a Cushing device movable relative to the compression chamber to relieve the mechanism from excess strain in effecting the compression.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an inl; reservoir, pump mechanism for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it to the printing couple, said pump mechanism comprising a compression chamber, a cushion device movable relative to the compression chamber to limit the amount of compression, the wall of the reservoir being provided with a passageway extending to a position adjacent the cushion to prevent compression on one side of the cushion.

7 In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, pump mechanism for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it to the printing couple, said pump mechanism comprising a compression chamber, a cushion element movable relative to the compression chamber, a spring normally holding said element in position and permitting movement of the element to relieve excess compression, the reservoir being provided with a passageway extending to a position adjacent the spring.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of ink reservoirs for inks of different colors, of a force pump associated with each reservoir for pumping ink from the reservoir and forcing it toward the printing couple, a cam for operating each pump, a manipulative device adjustable todifferent positions to control the matter printed by the printing couple, and vdevices controlled by said manipulative device for selectively rotating the cams.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a lprinting couple, of an ink reservoir, means comprising a plunger having a rectilinear to and fro movement for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it toward the printing couple, a rotatable member provided with a cam groove, an arm adjustably clamped to the plunger' and extending parallel to the plunger and beyond the cam groove, a pin carried by the arm,

with one end thereof engaging the cam groove and the other end cooperating with a slot running parallel to the plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger, and means requiring a plurality of operations of the printing couple for effecting a complete rotation of the rotatable member.

l0. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, means comprising a plun* ger having a rectilinear to and fro movement for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it toward the printing couple, a rotatable member provided with a cam groove and drilled at one end to receive a reduced portion of the movable plunger, an arm adjustably clamped to the plunger and extending parallel to the plunger and beyond the cam groove, a pin carried by the arm with one end thereof engaging the cam groove and the other end cooperating with a slot running parallel to the plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger, and means requiring a plurality of operations of the printing couple for effecting a complete rotation of the rotatable member.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, means comprising a plunger having a rectilinear to and fro movement for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it toward the printing couple, a rotatable member provided with a cam groove and slidably supporting one end of the plunger, an arm adjustably clamped to the plunger and extending parallel to the plunger and beyond the cam groove, a pin carried by the arm with one end thereof engaging the cam groove and the other end cooperating with a slot running parallel to the plunger to prevent rotation of the plunger, and means requiring a plurality of operations of vthe printing couple for effecting a complete rotation of the rotatable member.

l2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printing couple, of an ink reservoir, mechanism for drawing ink from the reservoir and forcing it to the printing couple, said mechanism comprising a compression chamber, said chamber having a passageway extending to the reservoir, a cushion device movableV relative to the compression chamber to relieve excess compression, and the reservoir having a passageway extending to a position back of the cushion to relieve compression back of the cushion.

In testimony whereof I hereby a'liix my signature.

WILLIAM UHL. 

